My last attempt at trying to see how ecological consultants catch gopher tortoises on land slated for transportation-related construction projects didn't yield any catches.

But I’ll have a chance to redeem myself next week.

The Florida Department of Transportation on Jan. 3 is giving reporters a chance to watch gopher tortoises being relocated from the first portion of the $1.7 billion Wekiva Parkway toll road construction project, the roadway set to complete the beltway around Central Florida and named one of the most transformative deals for the region in 2012.

The transportation department said more than 260 gopher tortoise burrows were found on this portion of Wekiva Parkway, known as segments 4A and 4B, a four‐lane divided limited-access toll road that goes from east of the existing County Road 435/Mount Plymouth Road to south of existing State Road 46.

Construction on the 25-mile Wekiva Parkway toll road — which will span Orange, south Lake and northeast Seminole counties — is slated to begin in February, pending the safe removal of the burrowing tortoises. The transportation department now says it could begin as early as January.

Gopher tortoises are a protected species in Florida and if burrows are found on a development site that appears to be occupied, developers are required to relocate them to a safer place before they can do any site work.

Be sure to check back after Jan. 3 to see if I made it out to the event and had a chance to see the burrowing amphibians in person.